Spy Wars: Strong Agents Who Are Ruthless and Talk Little

Chapter 411 Consume Yourself

The oppressive feeling in the air grew stronger, as if every breath became heavier. Su Ming felt dizzy. He tried to wake himself up, but found that he was already deeply trapped and unable to extricate himself. He gripped the wooden stick tightly with both hands, feeling the pain from his fingertips, but this pain seemed to make him more sober. He took a deep breath and said calmly: "You are right, I have no choice. But I can still fight for something for myself. Even if I can't change the outcome, at least I can maintain a little self-respect in this game."

The man didn't rush to refute, but simply stared at Su Ming quietly, as if observing his every emotional fluctuation. Su Ming suddenly felt like a test subject under a microscope, everything exposed to the other person's eyes. Every subtle change in his expression could not escape the man's sight.

"There's really so little you can do," the man said calmly. "What you're insisting on is just superficial resistance. All you can do is buy time. Do you think that will change anything?"

"I don't care what I can change." Su Ming raised his head, looked directly at the other person, and said firmly, "At least my life has meaning."

The man seemed stunned for a moment, then smiled slightly, a smile that was somewhat mocking. "You are always so self-righteous, thinking that you are in control of everything. But you have never truly understood this world. You are just an outsider and will never be able to understand its rules."

Su Ming didn't respond. He felt trapped in an unsolvable vortex, his every attempt at resistance and persistence becoming futile. He didn't know how much longer he could hold out, or if he could even continue. He only knew that he couldn't let himself fall so easily.

Su Ming stood there, the scene before him growing increasingly blurry. His thoughts grew dull, as if shrouded in a thick fog. Those words, those looks, those threats, like sharp thorns, gradually pierced his skin, seeped into his blood, and finally penetrated his bones. He felt himself being oppressed by some invisible force, almost suffocating him. Yet, despite the fear that threatened to overwhelm him, he remained steadfast in his conviction that there were some things he could not give up. Even if those things were shattered, even if his faith was no longer there, he would not allow himself to surrender so easily.

A cold breeze blew, letting in a faint light through the shabby windows. Su Ming's eyes involuntarily glanced out the window, the empty landscape leaving him somewhat disoriented. He had spent too many days here, each one a long battle, facing an unknown fate, each step fraught with danger and challenge. Yet, his goal remained unclear, and the path ahead was still shrouded in fog.

"What do you want?" He finally couldn't help asking again. The man's words kept spinning in his mind, lingering over and over again, making it increasingly difficult for him to calm down.

The man smiled faintly, his lips curved calmly, as if he wasn't in a rush to answer. His eyes remained cold, their depths seemingly concealing a myriad of landscapes, yet offering no glimpse of truth. "You don't understand," the man replied simply, his voice low. "You're just competing with yourself, Su Ming." He paused, then added, "You may be clever, but you don't understand the rules of this game. You're destined to lose."

Su Ming gritted his teeth, a sudden surge of urges washing over him. Yes, he'd long known he was deeply trapped, not just in this game, but on this path itself. He couldn't turn back, couldn't even return to his unburdened self. Every step he took was like stepping on invisible shackles.

But even so, Su Ming had no intention of giving in. He didn't understand why he had to persevere, or even where this road would end, but he knew he had no choice. His eyes were filled with determination, as if this conversation wasn't just a verbal exchange with the other party, but a confrontation with his own inner self. He began to question what he was fighting for.

"The rules you're talking about?" He took a deep breath, suppressed his inner anxiety and anger, and tried to keep himself calm. "I don't understand what you're talking about. But I know one thing, that is, I have no way out." When he said these words, his tone was still unyielding, as if every word represented his final resistance to fate.

The other party remained silent for a moment, as if considering Su Ming's words. Then, he smiled faintly and replied casually, "A retreat? Do you really think you have a choice?" His gaze grew sharper. "You've been trapped in this situation for a long time. No matter how hard you struggle, you can't escape."

Su Ming lowered his head, the stick in his hand trembling slightly. He suddenly felt a deep fatigue, a fatigue that came not only from the limits of his body, but also from the oppression within. Yes, he knew he couldn't escape, but every time he faced such a reality, he still couldn't give up his inner determination. That tenacity and indomitable spirit seemed like his last pillar of support. If even this pillar collapsed, how would he face himself?

"I don't want to give up." He whispered, his voice a little hoarse, but full of a certain firm strength.

The man looked at him, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes, but then his expression quickly returned to indifference. "You don't need to struggle anymore, Su Ming." His words were like a sharp knife, slicing through Su Ming's last line of defense. "This game is over long ago, but you're still putting up a last stand."

Su Ming looked up and gave the other man a deep look. In that instant, he felt as if he saw the abyss in his eyes, an endless darkness, devoid of warmth, emotion, only mechanical indifference and ruthlessness. It was as if everything in his eyes no longer mattered, what mattered was the end game, and he was just a pawn in it.

"I will fight to the end." He said in a firm voice, even trembling slightly. "Even if I die, I will not give up."

The man still didn't answer, merely staring at him calmly, as if waiting for something, perhaps watching his final decision. Under that calm gaze, Su Ming suddenly felt a strange feeling—an utter loneliness. It was as if every struggle, every resistance he had ever made, had ultimately been in vain. He had pondered countless times why he had done all this, why he had to endure such immense pressure, but each time he could find no answer.

Suddenly, a flashback flashed before his eyes, a memory from long ago. Back then, he was young, full of ideals and confidence. He had believed he could change the world, control his own destiny. But now, he was no longer that young man. All his ideals had long since faded away over the years, leaving only endless struggle and exhaustion.

"You don't understand." He murmured to himself, as if he was having a conversation with himself, "I never had a choice, but I just didn't want to."

The man still didn't answer, simply turning away calmly, as if he already knew all this. His back gradually disappeared into the shadows, leaving Su Ming alone, standing in that unfamiliar space, feeling endless isolation and oppression.

Everything seemed like an unsolvable puzzle, and he was just a lonely existence in it.

Su Ming's thoughts sank deeper and deeper into chaos. Those cold looks and sharp words pierced his heart like iron nails, making his blood freeze. Every time he tried to calm himself and think calmly about the future, the invisible fear surged over him like a tide, threatening to consume him. His chest felt like it was being weighed down by a huge rock, and his breathing became rapid.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to refocus his thoughts. In the silence, he suddenly realized he didn't know what he was waiting for. Was it to escape? To survive? Or simply to stop looking down?

The space before him blurred. He found that he could no longer clearly see everything around him. All he could see was that person's cold, distant gaze, as if the world was at its end. Every word that person said left a mark on Su Ming's heart, leaving him unable to escape the oppressive feeling.

"Are you lonely?" the man's voice suddenly came, his tone low and emotionless. "This kind of loneliness is not what you imagine. You think you can resist it, but in fact, everything is already determined."

"I'm not alone." Su Ming retorted in a low voice, his voice dry and seemingly drained of energy, but he remained stubborn. "Lonely? Yes, I admit I feel lonely, but it's not the kind of loneliness you're talking about. At least I still have myself."

The corners of the man's mouth curled up slightly, but the smile was somewhat ruthless. "What do you think you have? Do you really have what you call 'yourself'?"

Su Ming felt a sharp pain in his heart, and he dared not respond to the man's words. Indeed, he no longer had a clear understanding of what he possessed. Once, he had ideals, goals, and moments of passionate enthusiasm. But now, all of this had long since been ground to dust, and even his most basic beliefs were gradually wavering. With every struggle, every time he endured, he felt himself being consumed bit by bit, consuming the person he once was, until only endless exhaustion remained.

"You're right," he finally spoke, his voice low and almost powerless. "I don't know what I'm holding on to. Maybe I've run out of options. But even so, I can't stop."

He felt a chill deep inside him, a feeling like an icy blade cutting through his heart.